Wheeled ski



March`20, 1951 D. H. BOTTRILL 2,545,543

WHEELED sx1 Filed April 2o, 1946. 2 sheets-sheet 1 D. H. BOTTRILL WHEELED SKI March 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1946 HIV/H1 www Patented Mar. 20,l 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice WHEELED SKI David H. Bottrill, New York, N. Y. Application April 20, 1946, Serial No. 663,732

14 Claims.

This invention relates to wheeled skis and more particularly to a ski-like vehicle equipped with wheels whereby skiing may be simulated upon ordinary paved surfaces,

Roller skates must be used largely indoors since few outdoor surfaces such as pavements are sufficiently smooth to `provide satisfactory roller skating surfaces. In skating, furthermore, the skates are attached to the feet of the user in such a manner that one or the other of the skates is lifted from the skating surface. In skiing the action is dilerent from skating in that the skis are rarely lifted from the skiing surface, there being a weight transference and a sliding motion of the unweighted ski.

One object of thisinvention is t provide a wheeled ski for amusement and exercise of young and old in outdoor environment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheeled ski which is adapted for use on ordinary pavements and sidewalks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheeled ski in which means are provided to prevent the user from losing control of the skis.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant s-peciiication andwhich are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of skis of this invention shown in use;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of a pair of skis of this invention;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the pair of skis shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a pair of skis showing a different embodiment of this invention;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the skis shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the skis shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail shown on an enlarged scale.

In general this invention contemplates the provision of a pair of elongated ski-like platforms each of which is provided with foot positioning means located adjacent the center of gyration of the masses. A xed wheel, which is rubber tired, is mounted on a fixed transverse axis adjacent the forward portion of the ski. A wheel supported ICI ESO-11.23)

from a bracket rotatable about a vertical axis is mounted adjacent the rear of each ski. Flexible means interconnect the skis to limit the outward separation of one ski from the other thus preventing the user from doing either a lateral or fore and aft split More particularly, referring now to the drawings, the ski body or platform il) may be made of any suitable material and is preferably somewhat elongated in shape as can readily be seen by reference to Figures l and 5. At the forward portion of the ski iii there is provided a pair of brackets i2 each of which supports an axle i4 around which is journaled a suitable wheel lli provided with a pneumatic or rubber tire I8. The forward portion of the ski l0, adjacent the wheel I6 may be provided with a guard 20. The rear portion of the ski platform lll carries a bracket 22 secured by rivets 24 or in any other suitable manner. A pin 26 is formed on a fork 28 and is journaled for rotary movement in the bracket 22. The fork 28 carries a rear axle 3Q .around which is journaled a wheel 32 provided with a pneumatic or rubber tire 3B. Adjacent .the axis of gyration of the assembly, there is provided foot positioning means 3S and 38 adjustably secured by bolts 4E! or the like. A plurality of openings @2 are provided in the ski body l0 so that the toe positioning member 556 and the heel positioning member 38 may be adjusted to accommodate feet of different lengths. Posi- ,tioned between the toe and heel member d and there is provided a resilient foot supporting member 44 which may be made of rubber or any other suitable resilient material. The surface of the foot supporting member or cushion Ml may be formed inclined toward the inter-ski space as may readily be seen by reference to Figure 2.

To limit the separation of one ski from another in order to prevent a user from doing the split, means are provided for flexibly interconnecting one ski with the other. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l to 4, a pin 46 depends from the left side of the right ski platform IU and a pin 4t depends from the right side of the left ski platform Hl. A link 5B is pivoted to pin 45 and a link 52 is pivoted to pin 48. An intermediate link 5d pivotally connects links 59 and 52. The linking which is described further, prevents canting of one ski with respect to the other.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, instead of the links just described the skis are interconnected by a exible member 5e secured to the right side of left ski by pin 60 and to Y each forward step.

3 the left side of the right ski by pin 58. The flexible member 56 may be made of rubber, a coiled spring, wire rope or the like. When a flexible connection such as shown in Figure 5 is used, there is no stabilizing effect against tilting obtained in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. In order to permit a user to mount the skis, there is provided a depending bracket S2 mounted on the right side of the left ski and a depending bracket mounted onthe left side of the right ski. The-bracket may be formed of elongated metal and may be secured in any suitable manner. As shown in Figure 7, the forward end of the bracket is secured by rivets 66, the rear end of the bracket being free. Besides limiting the motion of the skis to the amplitude shown in Figure 6 enabling their being mounted readily by a user, the brackets may act as brakes. By inclining the ski platforms as shown in-Figure 6, the lower portions ofthe brackets may engage the supporting surface frictionally to perform their braking function. In use, ski poles 58 -may be employed in amannerfsimilar-to skiing for propulsion, balancing and supporting purposes. rEhe propelling; motion necessary to keep the same skis in motion is a shuiliing walk asis commonly used inf skiing in which thev weight of the body is transferred concomitantly with `To change direction it is merely necessary toswing the platforms by inclining kthe weight of the body of the user in the necessary direction so that a resultant turning movement is provided. The skiis may be readily stopped'in the :embodiment shown in vFigure 3 by .the vmaneuver known as toeing in. I-

The wheeled ski `is verymaneuverable and the rubber tires enable it tol bev-employed on any paved surface with a maximum of comfort.

It will be seen that the objects of this invention have been accomplished and that a-wheeled ski is provided .which will afford exercise and amusement for young and old.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations areof utility and may be employed without reference to other features and This is contemplated by and is within the scope of .the claims. It is further obvious that various changes maybe made in details within the scope of the "claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1t is, therefore, to be understood that-this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the inventiongwhatis claimed is:

1. A wheeled ski assembly including in combination a pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel mounted adjacent the forward portion of each'ski body for rotation around a transverse axis, a'pivoted fork journaled around a verticalaxis adjacent the rear portion of each ski body, a wheel mounted in each of said forks for rotationraround a transverse axis, foot positioning Ameans carried by each of said ski bodies adjacent the axis of gyration. and flexible means interconnecting said ski bodies at points adjacent said foot positioning means.

2. A wheeled ski assembly as in claim 1 in which said foot positioning means is provided with means for varying its effective length.

3. A wheeled ski assembly as in claim 1 in which said forks are journaled in a bracket carried by each ski bodyfsaid brackets extending upwardly from the ski body.

LA wheeled'skifassembly asfinfclaim` 1 including in combination a pair of depending members one carried by the left side of the right ski body and the other carried by the right side of the left ski body whereby when said ski bodies are canted toward each other said members will engage the ski surface to act as brakes.

5. A wheeled ski assembly as in claim 1 in which said flexible means comprises a plurality of links.

6. A wheeledski assembly as in claim l in which said flexible means comprises a coiled spring.

7. A wheeled ski assembly as in claim 1 in which said flexible means comprises elongated l elastic means.

8. A wheeled ski including in combination an elongated ski body, a wheel mounted adjacent the forward portion of said ski body for rotation around a transverse axis, a bracket mounted adjacent the rear portion of said ski body and extending upwardly therefrom, a pivoted fork -journaled around a vertical axis positioned in said bracket, a wheel mounted in said fork for rotation about a transverse axis, and foot positioning means carried by said ski body adjacent the axis of gyration, said foot positioning means including elastic foot supporting means.

9. A wheeled ski asin claim 8 in which said elastic foot supporting means is formed with an inclined surface.

l0. A wheeled ski assembly including in combination, a pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel mounted'adjacent the forwardV portion of each Aski body for rotation around a transverse axis,

a pivoted fork journalled around` a substantially vertical axis adjacent the rear portion of each ski body,V a wheel mounted in each of said forks for rotation about a transverse axis, foot positioning means carriedby each of said ski bodies between the front and rear wheels thereof, and means interconnecting said ski bodies for limiting separation thereof while permitting limited and relative lfore and aft and lateral movements therebetween.

1l. A'wheeled ski assembly including in combination, a'pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel mounted Vadjacent the forward portion of each `ski body for rotationV around a transverse axis,

Ya Vbracket extending upwardly adjacent the rear of each ski body and carrying a substantially vertical pivot pin, a rear wheel for each ski body, means supporting each rear wheel for rotation about a transverse axis and connected to said pivot pin for movement about the axis thereof, foot positioning means carried by each of said ski bodies between the front and rear wheels thereof, and means interconnecting said ski bodies for limiting separation thereof while permitting limited and relativefore and aft and lateral movements therebetween.

12. AV wheeled ski assembly including in combination, a pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel \mounted adjacent the forward portion of each ski body for rotation around a transverse axis, each of said ski bodies having a wheel disposed in rear thereof, a bracket secured to-each ski body'adjacent therear end thereof and extending rearwardly thereof, means supporting each ofsaid rear wheels for trailing rotation about a transverse axis to the rear of each ski body, said means being connected to a corresponding bracket for rotation about a substantially vertical axis disposed substantially in a central vertical plane of the corresponding ski body, and means interconnectingsaid ski bodiesrfor limiting separation thereof while permitting limited and relative fore and aft and lateral movements therebetween.

13. A wheeled ski assembly including in combination, a pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel mounted adjacent the forward portion of each ski body for rotation around a transverse axis, each of said ski bodies having a rear wheel disposed adjacent the rear end thereof, means supporting each of said rear wheels from the corresponding ski body for rotation about a transverse axis and for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, foot positioning means carried by each of said ski bodies between the front and rear wheels thereof, and means interconnecting said ski bodies for limiting separation thereof while permitting limited and relative fore and aft and lateral movements therebetween.

14. A wheeled ski assembly including in combination, a pair of elongated ski bodies, a wheel mounted adjacent the forward portion of each ski body for rotation around a transverse axis, each of said ski bodies having a rear wheel disposed adjacent the rear end thereof,fmeans supporting each of said rear wheels from the corresponding ski body for rotation about a transverse axis and for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, and means interconnecting said ski bodies for limiting separation thereof While permitting limited and relative fore and aft and lateral movements therebetween.

DAVID H. BOTTRILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 918,575 Mees Apr. 20, 1909 946,479 Wills Jan. 11, 1910 2,253,012 Benner et al Aug. 19, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 232,065 Germany Mar. 6, 1911 104,584 Switzerland July 1, 1924 800,880 France May 11, 1936 191,036 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1937 

